Accessible Pedestrian Signals

Accessible Pedestrian Signals, formerly known as audible pedestrian signals, advise pedestrians who are blind, visually impaired, or deaf-blind when they have the right-of-way to cross a roadway. The new term Accessible Pedestrian Signal (APS) is used to consider the accessibility requirements of persons with disabilities other than blindness or visual impairment and reflects the concept of universal access.

With the passing of Bill 118: Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act 2005, the Region of Durham is committed to the principles set out in the Act to suitably meet the needs of pedestrians with visual impairments or other disabilities. The Region of Durham works with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), as a resource, in order to effectively address these needs and to establish a standard for the installation of APS to promote uniformity.

Over the past 30 years, with the introduction of more complex intersection designs and signalization, traditional street-crossing techniques used by persons with visual and/or hearing impairments have become less effective–recognizing when it is safe and appropriate to cross a busy intersection has become an even greater challenge.

Simply put, an APS is a device that relays information about the most appropriate time to cross the street (or pedestrian phase intervals) using non-visual methods such: as audible tone, verbal speech messages, vibrating surfaces, tactile messages, receiver or any combination of these methods. APS may be used at signalized locations where pedestrian signals are also used. APS devices should be used as a supplemental device to existing orientation and mobility techniques to assist visually and/or hearing impaired individuals with street crossings. APS provide improved security for pedestrians with visual and/or hearing impairments by allowing them greater mobility.

How They Work

Accessible Pedestrian Signals are linked to the visual pedestrian signals. The APS advise pedestrians who are blind, visually impaired, and deaf-blind when they have the right-of-way for a particular crossing or direction.

Two audible tones are used to distinctly indicate the direction and pedestrian symbol in which the pedestrian has the right-of-way:

A ‘Cuckoo’ sound indicates that the ‘walk’ symbol is on and the pedestrian has the right-of-way in the north/south direction.
Click to listen. Subsequent to the ‘Cuckoo’ sound a pedestrian clearance tone is activated in conjunction with the pedestrian clearance symbol or ‘flashing raised hand’.
Click to listen.

A ‘Canadian melody’ sound indicates that the pedestrian has the right-of-way in the east/west direction.
Click to listen. Subsequent to the ‘Canadian Melody’ sound, a pedestrian clearance tone is activated in conjunction with the pedestrian clearance symbol or ‘flashing raised hand’.
Click to listen.

A pedestrian pushbutton must be pushed and continuously held for at least five seconds to properly activate the audible tones for the next available signal cycle. Pedestrians will hear a ‘pop’ sound from the pedestrian button to confirm that the audible sounds will be activated. If the button is not held down for at least five seconds, a ‘pop’ will not be heard and the audible tone will not be activated.

In addition to the “cuckoo” and “Canadian Melody” sounds, the APS pushbuttons are equipped with a continuous tone called a “locator tone”. This tone is emitted from the pushbuttons to assist pedestrians, who are visually impaired, in locating the pushbuttons.

The APS sounds and locator tones automatically adjust to ambient (ie. background) sound levels. Therefore, during peak traffic periods where ambient sound volumes levels are typically higher, the APS sound automatically adjusts in relation to the ambient sound level and is louder. During the overnight or off-peak periods they drop to their lowest volume level.

Pushbuttons in the Region of Durham are also equipped with a raised tactile arrow that points in the direction of the pedestrian crossing. This arrow vibrates when the APS Cuckoo or Canadian Melody sounds are activated.

Locations equipped with APS in the Region of Durham:

Town of Ajax

Bayly Street and Harwood Avenue

Bayly Street and Kitney Drive

Bayly Street and Monarch Avenue

Harwood Avenue and Hunt Street

Harwood Avenue and Falby Court

Harwood Avenue and Station Street/Achilles Road

Highway 2 and Harwood Avenue

Highway 2 and Harwood Centre

Highway 2 and Westney Road

Rossland Road and Church Street

Salem Road and Lord Drive

Westney Road and Bayly Street

Westney Road and Delaney/Magill Drive

Westney Road and Harwood Avenue

Westney Road and Monarch Avenue/Rands Road

City of Oshawa

Athol Street and Mary Street

Bloor Street and Drew Street/Hwy 401 EB Ramp

Bond Street and Mary Street

Cedar Street and Phillip Murray Avenue

Gibb Street and Oshawa Centre Entrance

Grandview Street and Coldstream Drive

Harmony Road and Winchester Road

John Street and Midtown Mall

King Street and Eastlawn Street / Kingsway Plaza

King Street and Mary Street

Park Road and Hillside Avenue

Ritson Road and Coldstream Drive

Ritson Road and Ormond Drive

Ritson Road and Pentland Street

Ritson Road and Woodmount Drive

Simcoe Street and Olive Avenue

Stevenson Road and Annapolis Avenue

Stevenson Road and Gibb Street

Taunton Road and Grandview Street

Taunton Road and Wilson Road

Thornton Road and King Street

Townline Road and King Street

Wilson Road and Coldstream Drive

Wentworth Street and Cedar Street

City of Pickering

Brock Road and Collector Road (South of Hwy 407 EB Off Ramp)

Finch Avenue and Dixie Road

Glenanna Road and The Esplanade South

Highway 2 and Rougemount Drive

Highway 2 and Whites Road

Highway 2 and Valley Farm Road

Kingston Road and Glenanna Road

Liverpool Road and Bushmill Street/Linwood Street

Liverpool Road and Finch Avenue

Liverpool Road and Highway 2

Pickering Parkway and Portland Court

Valley Farm Road and The Esplanade

Whites Road and Oklahoma Drive/Granite Court

Municipality of Clarington

Highway 2 and Clarington Boulevard

King Avenue East and Arthur Street / Brookhouse Drive

Liberty Street and Concession Street

Liberty Street and King Street

Regional Road 57 and Highway 2

Waverly Road and Baseline Road

Town of Whitby

Anderson Street and Manning Road

Brock Street and Mary Street

Highway 7/12 (Baldwin Street) and Campbell Street

Mary Street and Hickory Street

Rossland Road and Garden Street

Rossland Road and Anderson Street

Victoria Street and Gordon Street

Victoria Street and South Blair Street

Winchester Road and Memorial Park/Simcoe Street

How can I request an APS Evaluation to be conducted?

The Region has a retrofit program to install accessible pedestrian signals at existing signalized intersections that is based on available capital funding. Locations are prioritized in consultation with the local chapter of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind and Regional Accessibility Advisory Committee.

Requests for accessible pedestrian signals may be made to the Regional Accessibility Advisory Committee. Please contact us directly at 905-668-7711 extension 2009 or via email at accessibility@durham.ca.